A new Emerson College Polling survey has Ohio Democrats riding unexpected momentum heading into the 2026 elections, tightening two major statewide races and signaling trouble for Republicans who once dominated the state.
The poll, released Thursday, shows both the governor’s race and U.S. Senate contest narrowing sharply since August, a shift that lines up with some surveys showing a decline in approval of the GOP among Ohio voters.
Emerson surveyed 850 voters between Dec. 6 and 8, using cellphone voter lists and an online panel. The poll carries a margin of error of 3.3%.
The biggest shake-up comes in the governor’s race. Democrat Amy Acton has surged seven points and now leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 46% to 45%. In August, Ramaswamy held a commanding 49% to 39% advantage. That lead has effectively evaporated.
